Electric dry shaver



Jan. 30, 1968 R. J. ToLMlE ETAL 3,365,796

ELECTRIQ DRY SHAVER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 2O, 1965 INVENTORS.. @oeferJ rau/E PAUL E. ALLE/v R.J.TQLM1E r-:TAL` 3,365,796

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVEH Jan. 30, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1965 I INVENTORS. foe/5er J oLM/E PAUL .a ALLE/v BY M/C/r'A'l. 0514/ Jan. 30, 1968` v R. J. TOLMIE ETAL 3,365,795

ELECTRIC DRY sHAvER Filed April 20, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @ay/M Arron/5y United States Patent Ofi ice 3,365,796 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 3,365,796 ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Robert J. Tolmie, Fairfield, Paul E. Allen, Newton, and Michael Demci, Bridgeport, Conn., assignors to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, `N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 449,478 13 Claims. (Cl. @l0-43.92)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is directed to cutter drive means for driving an inner cutter of an electric dry shaver cutter head. The drive means are interposed between the movable inner cutter and cutter operating means and which drive means include first and second surfaces driven simultaneously by the operating means in opposite directions whereby forces transmitted to the operating means by the driven load are counterbalanced.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric dry shavers and more particularly to means for substantially reducing casing vibrations occasioned in the operation thereof.

Electric dry Shavers having cutter means which include multiple movable cutters driven in unison in a reciprocatory path relative to stationary cutters to effect a shaving operation are well known. One type of electric dry shaver in present use employs a cutter drive member positioned intermediate the movable cutters and motor driven operating means and which drive member effects simultaneous linear movement of the movable cutters in the same direction. The latter type drive member is of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,105,298 dated Oct. 1, 1963, and entitled Electric Shaver Cutter Drive Mechanism. The cutter drive member of the mentioned patent includes a movable body portion having drive arms engaging the movable cutter and which fbody portion is arranged substantially parallel to the movable cutters and connected to the motor driven operating means. Laterally extending flexible legs are provided on the body portion and which legs are disposed in appropriate mounts provided in the casing to support the cutter drive member for reciprocation. The operating means includes an eccentric pin provided on one end of a rotatable motor drive shaft connected in driving relationship with the cutter drive member. Upon operation of the motor the eccentric pin is rotated to operate the drive member which drives the movable cutters in a reciprocatory path in a plane intersecting the axis of rotation of the drive shaft at right angles with the legs of the drive member flexing in the casing supports to prevent the dipping of the ends of the movable cutters.

Satisfactory use has been made of these drive members. However, in operation of the shaver, it has been found that vibrations are generated -which are transmitted through the casing walls to the hand of a user causing an undesirable condition. One cause of these vibrations apears to be attributable to the fact that all the movable cutters are reciprocated simultaneously in the same direction. As a result, the load driven by the drive shaft continuously passes through a balanced position normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft to unbalanced positions n each side of the axis of rotation. Forces imparted to the rotating shaft by the load as it passes to the unbalanced positions generate vibrations which are transmitted to the walls of the shaver casing.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel means to substantially reduce vibrations occasioned in the operation of an electric dry shaver.

Another object is to provide novel cutter drive means and cutter operating means therefor for effectively balancing the load driven by the cutter operating means to counterbalance forces transmitted by the driven load to the operating means.

A further object is to provide novel means for balancing the forces exerted on the operating means of an electric dry shaver whereby vibrations transmitted to the casing walls are substantially reduced.

A still further object is to provide novel means for driving movable cutters of an electric dry shaver in opposite directions to balance the load driven by cutter operating means and to counterbalance forces imparted by the load to the operating means.

The present invention contemplates novel means for balancing the load driven by the operating means of an electric dry shaver to substantially reduce casing vibrations. The novel means include a cutter drive member adapted to drive one or more movable cutters and which drive member includes a rst surface disposed substantially parallel to the cutter means. A cutter actuating arm extends from the movable surface and is arranged in driving engagement with a movable cutter of the cutter means. Cutter operating means which include spaced eccentric means are connected to the drive member with a rst eccentric means biasing the movable surface and its associated movable cutter in one direction for reciprocating movement in a path intersecting the axis of rotation of the rotatable drive shaft at right angles. The cutter drive member further includes a second surface interconnected with the other eccentric means and which second surface is biased in a direction opposite to the first movable surface. In accordance with this arrangement, the spaced eccentric means are adapted to drive the rst and second surfaces in out of phase relationship whereby forces acting on the drive shaft are at all times equal and in opposite directions and thereby counterbalanced.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description Iwhich follows taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partly cross sectional elevation view of an electric dryV shaver incorporating the present invention; Y

FIG. 2 is an end view of the cutter drive member of FIG. 1 with the cutter means removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1; Y FIG. 4 is a perspective fragmentary end view partly in Y cross section of the cutter drive member of FIG. 1, and

other embodiment of a cutter drive member and operating means therefor constructed according to the present invention;

, FIG. 9 is -a sectional View taken on the line 9 9 of FIG. s;

FIG. 10 is fa perspective view of the cutter drive member of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the electric dry shaver of PEG. 8 with the hair pocket, cutter means and cutter d rive member removed;

FIG. 12 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the cutter operating means for the cutter drive member of FIG. 8; Y

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of the movable sur faces of the cutter drive member of FIG; 8;

FIG. 14 isa fragmentary partly cross sectional elevational view of an electric dry shaver and illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the cutter drive member of FIG. 14;

IFIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 14; and

lFIG. y18 is la sectional View taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 14.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a fragmentary upper portion of an electric dry shaver casing. Cutter means 21 are disposed on cutter support seats 22 provided on upwardly projecting portions 23 of a wall portion 24 of casing 20. Wall portion 24 also provides a top wall for a motor compartment 25 in which a motor 26 (partly shown) is housed and positioned in Iany suitable manner. Motor 26 may be of any conventional form and is provided with a rotatable drive shaft 27. Shaft 27 is supported in bearing housing 28 in wall 24 and as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 has an axis of rotation extending normal to the cutter means 21.

A detachable dome-shaped casing section 29 (FIGS. 1 and 3) usually referred to as a hair pocket is mounted over cutter means 21 and is detachably mounted in any well known manner to casing such as by means of spring urged latch projections 31 provided in wall portion 24. Hair pocket section 29 is provided with an opening 32 (FIG. 1) in the top thereof in which -is exposed the top surface of cutter means 21.

Cutter means 21 includes three identical cutter head units 35 (FIG. 3) disposed in side-by-side relationship on a mounting plate 36 (partly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) and each of which units 35 is of the general type shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 2,793,430 to L. C. Carissimi dated May 28, 1957. vEach cutter head unit 35 includes an elongated inverted U-shaped sheet metal outer stationary cutter 38 in which is disposed an elongated movable metal inner cutter 39. Each inner cutter 39 is urged into cutting cooperation with an associated outer cutter 38 by a leaf spring 40 of the general type shown in the mentioned patent. Cutter units 35 are secured to mounting plate 36 in any suitable manner (not shown) such as by screw threaded fastening means or the like. Means a-re provided .to detachably mount cutter means 21 on supporting seats 22 in a usual manner and which means include a pair of clamps 41 (FIGS. 1 yand 6) provided at opposite ends o'f cutter means 21. Clamps 41 are provided with arms 42 clamped to abtuments 43 (FIG. 6) on wall portion 24. An upwardly extending finger 45 is formed on each clamp 41 intermediate a-rms 42 and each of which vfingers engage a lip 46 (FIG. 1) on mounting plate 36 to clamp cutter means 21 to seats 22.

Cutter drive mounts comprising spaced recessed bearing portions 48 (FIG. V1) are provided in Wall portion 24 of casing 20 beneath the cutter means 21 and at opposite sides ofthe axis of rotation of motor drive shaft 27 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 6). Guide ribs 49 (-FIG. 6) are formed on the opposite sidewalls of each recess bearing portion 48 for supporting a cutter drive member 50 (FIGS. 1 and 4) therein in'a manner to be hereinafter described in further detail.

The 4structure thus far described represents more or less conventional structure as found in known electric dry Shavers of the type disclosed in the mentioned U.S. Patent No. 3,105,298. It is to be understood that the present invention is readily adaptable for use in'other type shavers. The drawings have been simplified so as to show only those parts of shaver casing 20 suicient to illustrate `an environment for the present invention.

Cutter drive member 50 is formed of a suitable molded plastic material and is provided With a main body portion arranged intermediate cutter means 21 and operating means 53 provided on motor drive shaft 27. The body portion of cutter drive member 5t) comprises three spaced and parallel surfaces 55, 56 and 57, each disposed beneath and extending longitudinally of a cutter unit 35. Flexible supporting legs 58 and 59 are formed at the opposite ends of each surface 55, 56 and 57 and are interconnected at their extremities (FIGS. 2 and 7) by a straight edge portion 60 and which spaced edge portions 60 are mounted in bearing portions 48. A cutter drive arm 61 is provided on each surface 55, 56 and 57 and which arms 61 extend laterally in an opposite direction to the flexible legs 58 and 59. A sealing strip 62 is disposed over arms 61 and which arms 61 project through apertures 63a (FIG. l) in mounting plate 36 to each engage a loop portion of a leaf spring of an associated aligned movable inner cutter 39. Drive arms 61 are of sucient length to place leaf springs 40 under tension in a well known manner to maintain inner cutters 39 in engagement with outer cutters 38.

Means are provided for interconnecting the outer surfaces 55 and 57 of drive member 50. To this end pairs of spaced downwardly extending lugs 64 (FIG. 7) provided on the bottom of surfaces 55 and 57. An insert member 65 is provided having apertures 66 in the corners thereof and which apertures 66 are press-fitted onto lugs 64 to interconnect insert 65 to surfaces 55 and 57.

The cutter operating means 53 for operating cutter drive member 50 to drive movable cutters 39 include a pair of eccentric pins 67 and 68 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) arranged 180 out of phase with respect to each other. Eccentric pin 67 projects from a block member 69 which is connected to the end of eccentric pin 68 formed on the end of drive shaft 27. Pin 67 bears against the walls of a transverse slot 70 provided in the underside of middle surface 56 of cutter drive member 50 and biases surface 56 on its legs 58 and 59 thereof in one direction (as for example to the right in FIGS. 1 and 5). Eccentric pin 68 bears against the walls of a transverse slot 71 provided in insert member 65 and biases surfaces 55 and 57 on legs 58 and 59 thereof in a direction opposite to lsurface 56 (as for example to the left as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5).

In accordance with this arrangement upon operation of motor 26, shaft 27 is rotated to rotate eccentric pins 67 and 68. Pin 67 in driving engagement with the walls of slot 70 drives middle surface 56 and its associated movable cutter 39 in one direction as designated by the arrow A in FIG. 5 in an imaginary plane intersecting the axis of rotation of shaft 27 at right angles while pin 68 in engagement with the walls of slot 71 in insert member 65 simultaneously moves outer surfaces 55 and 57 and their associated movable cutters 39 in an opposite direc tion in the same plane as designated yby the arrow B in FIG. 5.

In this manner the load driven by cutter member 50' is divided into two substantially equal masses which are at all times, equidistant from the axis of rotation of shaft 27 during reciprocation. Forces thereby transmitted to drive shaft 27 by the loads are thereby substantially equal and in opposite directions, and as a result the forces are counterbalanced whereby vibrations transmitted to the by pin 68 then the underside of middle Vsurface 56 of cutter drive member 50 may be tted with a suitable weighted member 75 as shown in broken lines in FIG; 7.

Member 75 is press-fitted into recess 76 and secured to the surface by any suitable means, as for example an adhesive substance (not shown). Member 75 is selected of a Weight which when combined with the weight of middle surface 56 and its inner cutter 39 would substantially be equal to the combined weight of surfaces 55 and 56 and their associated movable cutters 39. As a result the load driven by eccentric pin 67 would be substantially identical to that driven by eccentric pin 68 to more positively counterbalance forces driven by shaft 27 through the reciprocation of masses of equal weight by each pin 67-68.

In FIGS. 8 to 13 and 14 to 18 are shown further embodiments of the present invention wherein modifications of the cutter drive member and operating means are illustrated as adapted for use with shaver 20 and in which figures corresponding reference numerals have been applied to like elements previously described. In FIGS. 8 to 13 a cutter drive member 80 is provided with spaced parallel surfaces 85, 86 and 87 (FIG. 10). Pairs of spaced downwardly extending flexible leg members S8 and 89 extend from the edges of surfaces 85, 86 and 87 and are interconnected at the extremities by straight edge portions 90. Straight edge portions 90 are seated in recess bearing portions 48 of the wall portion 24 of shaver casing 20 (FIG. 8). Cutter drive arms 92 are provided on surfaces 85, 86 and 87 and each is in engagement with a loop of an inner cutter drive leaf spring 40 of a movable cutter 39 in the manner as described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7. A transverse rectangular slot 93 is provided in the underside of each surface 85, 86 and 87 and in each of which transverse slots 93 is arranged an eccentric pin 95 of a cutter operating means generally indicated by the reference numeral 96 in FIGS. 8, 9, 11 and 12.

Cutter operating means 96 comprises a gear housing which includes a base section 98 provided with a cylindrical ange 99 (FIGS. 8, 9 and l2) press-tted into an aperture 100 in wall portion 24. A pair of pinion gears 101-102 each mounting one of the eccentric pins 95 are detachably mounted on base section 98 by means of stub shafts 103 (FIGS. 9 and l2) and which stub shaft 103 is fitted for rotation in apertures 104 (FIG. l2) in base section 98. A drive gear 105 is disposed between and arranged in meshed engagement with pinions 101 and 102 and is press-fitted to the end of drive shaft 27 for rotation therewith. An eccentric pin 95 on drive gear 105 is arranged 180 out of phase with eccentric pins 95 on pinions 101 and 102. A cover plate 109 is fitted over base section 98 and secured thereto and to wall portion 24 of casing 20 by screws 109a. Suitable enlarged apertures 110 are provided in cover plate 109 through which eccentric pins 95 project for rotation.

In accordance with this arrangement, the out of phase relationship of eccentric pins 95 of pinions 101-102 with respect to pin 95 of drive gear 105 biases surfaces 85-87 in an opposite direction to middle surface 86 (FIG. 13). When motor 26 is operated, drive gear 105 is driven clockwise (FIG. 11) to drive pinion gears 101-102 counterclockwise. As a result, surfaces 85 and 87 and their associated movable cutters 39 are driven in one direction with drive gear 105 driving surface 86 and the movable cutter 39 associated therewith in an opposite direction. In this manner the load driven by drive shaft 27 is distributed into two oppositely reciprocating masses which are at all times equidistant from the axis of rotation of shaft 27 whereby forces generated by the mass at opposite sides of the axis of rotation are counterbalanced.

A further advantage of this embodiment is that if desired, the two pinion gears 101 and 102 which are detachably mounted on section 98 by the stub shafts 103, may be mounted on section '98 in any selected position of meshed engagement with drive gear 105 whereby eccentric pins 95 are arrangeable in any selected out of phase relationship to balance the load on shaft 27. As for example, surfaces 85, 86 and 87 may be arranged whereby surface -6 is 90 out of phase with surface S6 and 180 out of phase with surface 87 through mounting pinions 101-103 in the latter out of phase relationship about the periphery of drive gear whereby the load on drive shaft 27 is divided into three substantially equal masses to reduce vibrations.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 14 through 18, inclusive, a cutter drive member 112 is provided which includes a rectangular strip portion 113 (FIGS. 14, l5 and 17) provided with three spaced upwardly extending cutter drive arms 114 each in engagement with an inner cutter spring 40 of a movable cutter 39 of cutter means 21. Strip member 113 is mounted on a U-shaped frame member 115 provided having spaced flexible legs 116. A foot portion 117 of each leg 116 is provided with apertures 118. Mounting lugs 119 are provided in wall portion 24 of casing 20 upon which are press-fitted apertures 118 in feet 117 to mount frame on wall portion 24. A counterweight member 120 is arranged beneath strip member 113 (FIGS. 14 and 17) and which counterweight member 120 is secured to spaced exible brackets 121. Counterweight120 is selected of a weight substantially equal to the combined weight of strip 113 and inner cutters 39. Brackets 121 are provided with apertures 122 in foot portions 123 thereof which are mounted on lugs 119 beneath foot portions 117 of frame 115. A first transverse slot 124 is provided in counterweight 120 and a second transverse slot 125 is provided in the bottom of strip 113 registering with a slot 126 frame 115 to permit passage therethrough of cutter operating means 53 of the type described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. l to 7.

Pin 67 which is arranged 180 out of phase with respect to eccentric pin 68 is in driving engagement with slot 125 in strip 113 to bias strip 113 in one direction. Pin 68 is in driving engagement in with slot 124 of counterweight 120 biases counterweight 120 in an opposite direction on brackets 121. As a result, upon operation of motor 22 drive shaft 27 is rotated to move cutters 39 and strip 113 in one direction and counterweight 120 in the opposite direction to provide whereby shaft 27 drives masses of equal weights which are at all times equidistant from the axis of rotation to counterbalance vibratory causing forces.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the embodiments of the novel drive member has many advantages in use. One advantage is that economical means are provided whereby the load driven by the drive shaft 27 is effectively balanced at all times to substantially reduce vibrations.

It is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on said casing,

(c) said cutter means including a movable cutter and a stationary cutter,

(d) a motor disposed within said casing,

(e) cutter operating means connected to said motor,

(f) a cutter drive member interposed between said cutter means and said cutter operating means and connected in driving relationship with said cutter operating means for operation thereby,

(g) said cutter drive member having a first movable surface adapted to move in an imaginary plane spaced and parallel to said movable cutter upon operation of said cutter operating means,

(h) a cutter drive arm extending from said surface of said cutter drive member and in engagement with said movable cutter to reciprocate said movable cutter upon said movement of said first surface, and

(i) said cutter drive member having a second movable surface connected in driving relationship with said cutter operating means and movable thereby in a direction opposite to said first mentioned surface upon movement of said latter surface.

2. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on said casing,

(c) said cutter means including a movable cutter and a stationary cutter,

(d) a motor disposed within said casing and having a rotatable drive shaft with an axis of rotation extending normal to said cutter means,

(e) cutter operating means provided on one end of said rotatable drive shaft,

() a cutter drive member interposed between said cutter means and said cutter operating means and connected in driving relationship with said cutter operating means for operation thereby,

(g) said cutter drive member having a first movable surface,

(h) a cutter actuating arm extending from said surface and in engagement with said movable cutter, said actuating arm movable upon operation of said cutter operating means to reciprocate said movable cutter in an imaginary plane intersecting said axis of rotation at right angles, and

(i) said cutter member having a second movable surface connected in driving relationship with said cutter operating means and movable thereby in a direction opposite to said first mentioned surface upon movement of said latter surface.

3. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on one end of said casing,

(c) said cutter means including a movable cutter and a stationary cutter,

(d) a motor disposed within said casing and having a rotatable drive shaft with an axis of rotation extending normal to said cutter means,

(e) cutter operating means provided on one end of said drive shaft,

(f) cutter drive supports provided in said casing at opposite sides of said axis of rotation,

(g) a cutter drive member disposed between said cutter means and one end of said drive shaft,

(h) said cutter drive member having a first movable surface arranged parallel to said movable cutter and having laterally extending flexible supporting legs on opposite ends thereof mounted on said cutter drive supports,

(i) a cutter actuating arm on said first surface and extending therefrom into driving relationship with said movable cutter,

(j) said cutter operating means including first eccentric means in engagement with said first surface of said cutter drive member to reciprocate said first surface and the associated movable cutter in a plane intersecting said axis of rotation at right angles,

(k) said cutter drive member having a second movable surface in driven engagement with said cutter operating means, and

(l) said cutter operating means including second eccentric means in engagement with said second surface of said cutter drive member operable to effect movement of said second surface portion in a direction opposite to said first surface.

4. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on said casing,

(c) said cutter means including a plurality of movable cutters adapted for reciprocating movement relative to individual associated stationary cutters,

(d) a motor disposed within said casing and having a rotatable drive shaft having an axis of rotation extending normal to said cutter means,

(e) cutter operating means on one end of said drive shaft,

(f) spaced cutter drive supports provided in said casing at opposite sides of said axis of rotation,

(g) a cutter drive member disposed between said cutter means and said cutter operating means,

(h) said cutter drive member including first and second movable surfaces arranged spaced and parallel to said cutting means and each in alignment with a movable cutter,

(i) laterally extending flexible` supporting legs provided on the opposite ends of said drive members and mounted on said spaced cutter drive supports,

(j) a cutter actuating arm on each of said surfaces with each arm extending from a surface into driving relationship with an associated movable cutter,

(k) means connecting said first and second surfaces to said cutter operating means, and

(l) said cutter operating means including spaced eccentric means operable to simultaneously move said first and second surfaces and associated movable cutters in opposite directions in an imaginary plane intersecting said axis of rotation at right angles upon rotation of said drive shaft.

S. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on said casing,

(c) said cutter means including three spaced and parallel movable cutters adapted for reciprocatory movement relative to individual associated stationary cutters,

(d) a motor disposed within said casing and having a rotatable drive shaft having an axis of rotation extending normal to said cutting means,

(e) cutter operating means on one end of said drive shaft,

(f) spaced cutter drive supports provided in said casing at opposite sides of said axis of rotation,

(g) a cutter drive member disposed between said cutter means and said cutter operating means,

(h) said cutter drive member having three spaced and parallel movable surfaces each arranged in alignment with one of said movable cutters,

(i) spaced supporting legs on the opposite ends of each of said surfaces of'said drive member with the ends of said legs mounted on said spaced cutter drive supports,

(j) a cutter actuating arm extending from each of said surfaces and each in driving engagement with its associated movable cutter,

(k) said cutter operating means including spaced eccentric means,

(l) means interconnecting two of said cutter drive sur- Y' faces and having a portion in engagement with one of said spaced eccentric means, and

(m) means connecting said remaining cutter drive surface to said other eccentric means,

(n) said first eccentric means being operable upon rotation of said drive shaft to move said two cutter drive surfaces and associated cutters in one direction and said second eccentric means simultaneously operable to move said remaining surface and associated cutter in an opposite direction.

6. The electric dry shaver of claim 5 wherein said interconnecting means for said two of said three cutter drive surfaces comprises,

(a) a plate member interconnected to said two cutter drive surfaces,

(b) said plate member having an aperture provided with a wall portion in engagement with said first eccentric means on said cutter operating means.

7. The electric dry shaver of claim 5 wherein said connecting means for said remaining cutter drive surface include a transverse slot in said surface having Wall portions engaged by said second eccentric means.

8. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on one end of said casing,

(c) said cutter means including three spaced and parallel movable cutters adapted for reciprocating movement relative to individual associated stationary cutters,

(d) a motor disposed in said casing and having a rotatable drive shaft having an axis of rotation extending normal to said cutting means,

(e) cutter operating means on one end of said rotatable drive shaft,

(f) cutter drive supports provided in said casing at opposite sides of said axis of rotation,

(g) a cutter drive member disposed between said cutter means and said cutter operating means,

(h) said cutter drive member provided with three spaced and parallel movable surfaces each arranged at one side of and in alignment with a movable cutter,

(j) a cutter actuating arm extending from each of said cutter drive member with the ends of said legs mounted on said cutter drive supports,

(j) a cutter actuating arm extending from each of said surfaces and each in driving engagement with its associated movable cutter,

(k) said cutter operating means including spaced rotatable eccentric means,

(l) rst means connecting two of said cutter drive surfaces to one of said spaced eccentric means, and

(rn) second means associated with third cutter drive surface to connect said remaining surface to the other of said eccentric means,

(n) said spaced eccentric means operable upon rotation of said drive shaft to reciprocate their connected cutter drive surfaces and movable cutters in simultaneous opposite reciprocatory paths lying in an imaginary plane intersecting said axis of rotation at right angles, and

(o) means carried by said remaining surface of substantially equal weight to a said one of said other two cutter drive surfaces and associated movable cutter whereby masses of substantially equal weights are reciprocated 'by said spaced eccentric means.

9. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on one end of said casing and including a movable and a stationary cutter, (c) a motor compartment provided within said casing and having one well thereof provided with an aperture,

(d) a motor mounted in said motor compartment and having a rotatable drive shaft provided with an axis of rotation extending normal to said cutter means,

(e) cutter operating means on said drive shaft,

(f) cutter drive supports provided within said casing on opposite sides of said axis of rotation,

g) a cutter drive -member disposed between said cutter ymeans and said cutter operating means,

(h) said drive member including a first surface a1'- ranged parallel to said movable cutter and having laterally extending flexible legs on opposite ends thereof with the ends of said legs mounted on said cutter drive supports,

(i) a cutter actuating arm extending from said first surface in engagement with said movable cutter, (j) means connecting said rst surface to said cutter operating means and movable thereby to effect reciprocation of said Imovable cutter in a plane intersecting said axis of rotation at right angles upon rotation of said drive shaft,

(k) said drive member further including a second surface having laterally extending iiexible legs on opposite ends thereof mounted on said cutter drive supports, said second surfaces arranged parallel to said cutting means and connected to said operating means, and

(l) said operating means including eccentric means to effect movement of said second surface in a direction opposite to said first surface whereby vibratory forces transmitted to said shaft during reciprocation of said rst surface are counterbalanced.

10. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing containing a motor and motor driven rotatable cutter operating means,

(b) cutter means including at least two movable cutters mounted on said casing,

(c) a cutter drive member disposed between said operating -means and said cutter means,

(d) support means `provided in said casing for supporting said cutter drive member,

(e) said cutter drive member including individual drive elements for each of said at least two movable cutters,

(f) each of said drive elements provided with a surface arranged substantially parallel to an associated one of said at least two movable cutters,

(g) a cutter actuating arm extending from each surface and each connected to a said movable cutter, (h) laterally extending flexible legs on opposite ends of each surface mounted on said support means, and (i) said cutter operating means including spaced eccentric means each in engagement with a drive element and operable to move said drive elements simultaneously in opposite directions.

11. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing containing a motor and motor driven cutter operating means,

(b) cutter means mounted on said casing,

(c) said cutter means including at least two movable cutters,

(d) a cutter drive member disposed between said cutter operating means and said cutter means for driving said at least two movable cutters,

(e) cutter drive supports provided in said casing,

(f) said cutter drive member having first and second spaced and parallel surfaces and each having laterally extending exible legs on opposite ends thereof mounted on said cutter drive supports,

(g) cutter actuating arms on said first and second surfaces each in engagement With a said movable cutter,

(h) spaced connecting means mounting said first and second surfaces on said cutter operating means, and,

(i) said cutter operating means including spaced eccentric means in driving engagement with said spaced connecting means operable to simultaneously drive said first and second surfaces and associated movable cutters in opposite reciprocatory directions upon operation of said motor.

12. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing containing a motor and motor driven cutter operating means,

(b) cutter means mounted on one end of said casing,

(c) said cutter means including a plurality of movable cutters,

(d) spaced cutter drive supports provided in said casing,

(e) a cutter drive member disposed between said cutter operating means and said cutter means for driving said movable cutters,

(f) said cutter drive member including spaced movable surfaces arranged spaced and parallel to said movable cutters,

(g) each of said surfaces having a pair of laterally extending flexible legs Amounted on said spaced cutter drive supports,

v(h) a cutter actuating arm extending from each of said surface in driving engagement with a movable cutter,

(i) means connecting said cutter drive surfaces to said cutter operating means, and

(j) said cutter operating means including means for driving said connecting means and associated cutter drive surfaces for a selected number of said movable cutters in one direction and the remaining cutters simultaneously in an opposite direction.

13. An electric dry shaver comprising,

(a) a casing,

(b) cutter means mounted on one end of said casing,

(c) said cutter means including three spaced and parallel movable cutters,

(d),a motor disposed within casing and having a rtatable drive shaft with an axis of rotation extending normal to said cutting means,

(e) cutter operating means on one end of the rotatable drive shaft,

(t) spaced cutter drive supports provided in said casingV at operated sides of said axis of cutter,

(g) a cutter drive member disposed between said cutting means and said cutting operator means,

(h) said cutter drive member provided with three spaced and parallel surfaces each arranged to one side of and in alignment with a movable cutter,

(i) spaced exible legs on the opposite ends of each of said surfaces with the ends of said legs mounted on said spaced drive supports,

(j) a cutter actuating arm extending from each of said surfaces and each in driving engagement with an associated movable cutter,

(k) a plate member interconnected to two of said drive surfaces,

(l) said plate member having an operture,

(m) said cutter operating means provided with spaced eccentric means extending through said aperture in said plate, and

(n) means connecting said remaining cutter drive surfaces `to one of said eccentric pins with the remaining eccentric pin in engagement with the walls of said aperture whereby said two cutter drive surfaces and associated movable cutters are moved in one direction upon rotation of said drive shaft and said remaining surface and associated cutter simultaneously movable in an opposite direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,314 11/1940 Nyhagen 3G- 43.91 X 2,323,881 7/1943 Mehl 30-41.6 2,339,677 1/ 1944 Burns 30-43.91 2,467,417 4/ 1949 Wurtele 30-43 .91 2,773,306 12/1956 Ranson 30-4392 2,814,866 12/1957 Bagno 30 43.92 3,105,298 10/ 1963 Carissimi 3io-43.92 3,218,708 11/1965 Spohr 30-43.92

MYRON C. KRUSE, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,365,796 January 30, 1968 Robert J. Tolmie et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent Should read as corrected below.

Column 7, line Z8, after "cutter" insert drive column 8, line 14, for "members" read member column 9, line 23, strike out "(j) a cutter actuating arm extending from each of said" and insert (i) spaced flexible legs on the opposite end of said line 52, for "well" read wall Column ll, line Z, for "surface" read surfaces column l2, line 5, for "operature" read aperture Signed and sealed this lst day of April 1969. (SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

